Savory Parmesan Cheese Puff Pastry Twists
This post might have affiliate links. For full details please see my disclosure policy.
These parmesan cheese puff pastry twists are my dinner party MVP. I mean, it’s cheese and puff pastry, what could go wrong? They’re a flaky, cheesy, savory dream that comes together in about 30 minutes. And, they’re make-ahead so you have extra time for a pre-party glass of wine!
A few months ago, I had 6 friends coming over for a last-minute dinner party but zero time to come up with an appetizer situation. So, what’s a girl to do? That’s right, friends. I looked to my tried-and-true dinner party queen, Ina Garten.
Years ago, I remember Ina mentioning that her go-to last-minute app is good olives and shards of parmesan cheese. So I shaved thick pieces of parmesan, set out a bowl of Castelvetrano olives, and added a few other things I had sitting around the house – Marcona almonds, prosciutto, and store-bought cheese sticks. The app was gone within minutes. No cooking, no stress.
Ok, noted!
This has now become my go-to dinner party app, but I like to make homemade cheese sticks that I originally learned how to bake when I was in pastry school. Not only are they ridiculously easy but they’re also make-ahead and so much more affordable than store-bought. We have buttery puff pastry, sharp parmesan, and earthy rosemary in one crispy, flaky bite. So good!
Obviously, these twists are a go-to with no-cook snacks like cheese and nuts. But they’d also be amazing alongside other quick appetizers like homemade boursin cheese or even this 5-minute whipped goat cheese.
Thaw the puff pastry
The #1 thing that will thwart any puff pastry appetizer is forgetting to thaw the puff pastry beforehand. Make sure to throw a box of puff pastry in the fridge the night before! Or, if you have the time, you can thaw it at room temperature for 30-60 minutes. Just make sure it’s completely thawed before you start making these twists!
5 things you need
You only need 5 basic things to make these twists! Puff pastry (all-butter if you can find it), freshly-shredded parmesan cheese, an egg, garlic powder, and minced fresh rosemary.
Feel free to use any hard or semi-hard cheese you like though! These will also work with sharp white cheddar, gouda, gruyère, or comté. You can also replace the rosemary with thyme or parsley. Or, add other spices like smoked paprika, cayenne, or anything else you like.
Make the twists
I like to press the parmesan and herbs into the puff pastry to help it stick. You can use clean hands or a rolling pin to do this, you just want it to stick as much as possible!
You want to twist each side of the puff pastry strips in opposite directions until they won’t twist anymore. And don’t worry if some of the cheese falls off, just sprinkle it over the twists before you bake them.
Straighten the twists out
When I was testing this recipe, I noticed that the twists started curling up after about 10 minutes in the oven. If this happens to you, just remove the twists from the oven and straighten them out with clean hands. Be careful cause they’ll be pretty hot! Bake them for another 12-15 minutes and they should stay relatively straight.
Using the twists
What I really love about these cheese straws is that they’re good on their own or with other appetizers. You can add them to a charcuterie or cheese board or just eat them alongside cheese and olives. But they’re also so good with dips, melty baked Camembert with pecans, or my favorite spicy deviled eggs.
Make-ahead – 2 ways!
These twists last surprisingly well if you want to make them ahead of time. You have a couple of options here – storing the straws baked or un-baked! I’ve tried both and either will work so just do whatever is easiest for you.
- Baked twists – once the straws are completely cooled, place them in an airtight container. You can store them at room temp for up to 2 weeks.
- Un-baked twists – prep the twists, cover them with wrap, and refrigerate them for 1-2 days. Then, bake the straws right before you’re about to serve them!
Re-crisping the straws
If you live somewhere humid, the straws can lose their crispiness over time. If this happens, just spread the twists in an even layer on a sheet pan. Then, bake them at 200°F (93°C) for about 5 minutes, or until they’re crunchy again.
If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!
Crunchy Parmesan Cheese Puff Pastry Twists
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 2 sheets of puff pastry, preferably all-butter, thawed (520 grams)
- All-purpose flour, for dusting
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
- 1 1/2 cups freshly-shredded parmesan cheese (105 grams)
- Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Equipment
- Pizza Cutter or sharp knife
- Parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper. Then, whisk the egg with 1 Tablespoon of water in a small bowl to make egg wash. Set aside.
- Unroll one sheet of puff pastry on a clean, lightly-floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the sheet of puff pastry into a 10×12-inch rectangle. Then, use a pastry brush to brush the entire sheet of puff pastry with egg wash. Make sure to get the edges!
- Evenly sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of rosemary, and 3/4 cup (52 grams) of parmesan over the sheet of puff pastry. Season with Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste. Gently press the cheese and spices into the puff pastry with clean hands or a rolling pin.
- With the long edge facing you, cut the sheet of puff pastry into 12 one-inch strips with a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Working one at a time, grab each end of a puff pastry strip and twist the ends away from each other until it won't twist anymore. Place 6 puff pastry straws on each sheet pan a few inches apart (they will puff up quite a bit). If some of the filling spills out, just sprinkle it over the twists.
- Bake for 10 minutes. If the puff pastry straws start to curl up, use oven mitts to remove the pan from the oven. Re-straighten the puff pastry straws – be careful, they'll be hot! Then, bake the puff pastry straws for another 12-15 minutes, until they're crunchy and golden-brown.
- While the puff pastry straws are baking, repeat the above process with the remaining sheet of puff pastry, parmesan, and spices. You should have 24 twists total. Serve them warm or at room temperature.
